Las Vegas — Youngstown State's bowling team advanced one step further toward its ultimate goal on Friday morning by beating Nebraska 2-0 in the opening round of the National Collegiate Bowling Championship at the Suncoast Bowling Center.
The Penguins dropped the winner's bracket final 2-1 to Jacksonville State on Friday afternoon, which creates a rematch with the Huskers on Saturday morning for a spot in the national championship match. Saturday's contest will be at noon Eastern / 9 p.m. Pacific, and the winner will take on Jacksonville State in a best-of-seven contest for the title on ESPNU and ESPN+.
Against Nebraska in the morning round, the Penguins had four bowlers break 200 in the traditional point as they won 1,021-973 to take a 1-0 lead in the match, and they jumped out to a huge lead after three games in the Baker point on their way to a 1,116-1,006 victory.
Against the Huskers, Youngstown State had sizeable advantages in the leadoff and fourth spots in the lineup in the 48-pin victory in the traditional point. Madison Doseck threw the front four and finished with nine strikes in her 224 game in the leadoff slot, and Madyson Marx was clean after a split in the third frame in a 223. YSU had a 106-pin edge from those two bowlers, and Amanda Granata, Kirsten Moore and Jade Cote did more than enough to protect that advantage.
The Penguins remained hot in the Baker round, and they had a 732-554 advantage after three games. YSU started with a 256 to immediately keep the momentum, and it separated more from the Huskers after throwing the back eight of game three for a 267. YSU followed with a 200, and it worked in its entire lineup in game five after securing the victory.
The Gamecocks rallied to top Wichita State 2-1 in the mega match by beating the Shockers in the traditional point and 4-3 in the best-of-seven Baker, and they were able to outlast the Penguins in another mega match for a 2-1 victory.
The first two points were decided by a total of 10 pins, and Youngstown State built momentum in the traditional point despite losing 1,051-1,045. The Penguins had four opens in the first two frames and didn't have a clean frame until the sixth as they fell behind by nearly 100 pins to the tournament's top seed. YSU started to string strikes together and cut the deficit in half heading into the final frame, and the match came down to the anchors.
Jacksonville State's Danielle Henderson had the hot hand the entire match, and she polished off a 244 to help the Gamecocks take the 1-0 lead in the match. Doseck led the Penguins with a 245, Marx shot 224, and Granata fired a 202.
In the Baker point, Youngstown State averaged 240.75 over its first four games and outscored Jax State by 89 pins in the middle three games to hold a 78-pin advantage. That lead was bolstered by a 279 in game three as the Penguins struck on their final 10 attempts. Jacksonville State shot 238 in game five and put pressure on Cote to mark in the 10th to extend the match, and YSU's anchor picked up a spare and added a strike for a high-scoring 1,127-1,123 win.
The best-of-seven round had four games decided by 12 pins or fewer, and the Gamecocks won three of those four tight ones. Jax State won 220-213 in the opener, and YSU's lone win came in game two 223-220. The Gamecocks' biggest edge was 222-195 in game three, and they took the next two games 213-201 and 212-201.
Friday's Final Four Results
Youngstown State vs. Nebraska - YSU Won 2-0
Traditional Round - YSU 1,021-973
Baker Round - YSU 1,116-1,006
Starting lineup: Madison Doseck, Amanda Granata, Kirsten Moore, Madyson Marx, Jade Cote
- Game 1: 259-189 | +70
- Game 2: 206-178 | +28 (+98)
- Game 3: 267-187 | +80 (+178)
- Game 4: 200-220 | -20 (+158)
- Game 5: 184-232 | -48 (+110)
Youngstown State vs. Jacksonville State - Jax State Won 2-1
Traditional Round - Jax State 1,051-1,045
Baker Round - YSU 1,127-1,123
Starting lineup: Madison Doseck, Amanda Granata, Kirsten Moore, Madyson Marx, Jade Cote
- Game 1: 225-236 | -11
- Game 2: 231-214 | +17 (+6)
- Game 3: 278-249 | +29 (+35)
- Game 4: 229-186 | +43 (+78)
- Game 5: 164-238 | -74 (+4)
Best-of-Seven Baker - Jax State 4-1
Starting lineup: Madison Doseck, Amanda Granata, Kirsten Moore, Madyson Marx, Jade Cote
- Game 1: 213-220 | Jax State
- Game 2: 223-220 | YSU
- Game 3: 195-222 | Jax State
- Game 4: 201-213 | Jax State
- Game 5: 201-212 | Jax State
